The Major Arcana

[TheArtfulDodger]

Hi, I have designed the Major Arcana and wanted to gather people’s oppions as to wether I should design the entire Tarot deck. Please go easy on me as this is my very first deck I have designed though I have previously designed a fantasy board game. I do appologise for the format and I do hope I am not infringing any rules by posting this way. The images are protected in this format from people clicking on them to copy. I do hope you enjoy them and look forward to hearing your responses and any suggestions you may have.

 

Many thanks for your time.

 

Cheers Colin

[Misterei]

Hmmm. There were a couple of cards which hit for me. Hermit and Justice come to mind.

 

The others I couldn't connect with. They felt like the aesthetic was more important than the symbolism. Of course this is my opinion about 95% of the new decks coming out ... many decks I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot-pole raise crazy amounts of money on kickstarter and whatnot. So go figure.

 

I'm old school and like symbolism. One thing i really respect about digital artist Ciro Marchetti ... he really studied his tarot symbolism.

 

Anyway ... I certainly feel respect for your digital art skill. I'm trying to draw a deck on my ipad in procreate and I suck at it ... but I know my symbolism haha. If only I could draw faster and better I'd actually get somewhere.

Edited March 20, 2023 by Misterei

[remod]

I like that you managed to get a consistent style for almost all the cards (maybe "the lovers" is the only one whose style is quite dissimilar from the others).

 

Good job on the hanged man. I'm sure it has been quite challenging to work on.

I'm not that knowledgeable about symbolism but it seems to me that some of the cards do not correspond with the text you added.

But I'm sure others know better than me.

 

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by remod

[gregory]

I like many of them. But if you are going to do the whole deck - please do fully illustrated pips. Otherwise - I'd leave it as majors only. Majors like that combined with pip cards that just have suit symbols feel wrong !

[Raggydoll]

I’m thinking you used AI? I ask because of the very weird hands. If it’s not AI and you did that on purpose, then I’d be interested in hearing why 🙂 If it wasn’t on purpose, I’d try to rectify it if I were you. 

[gregory]

It seems to be some kind of manipulated photocollage - I'm sure I  recognise some of the bits....

[Nemia]

I actually like the way you took some liberties with traditional symbolism although it's difficult to do with the majors. I'd like to see a re-interpretation of the minors. Your art looks like a clandestine meeting of Hieronymus Bosch and a computer 😉 

 

The Emperor - you seem, like many artists, to take a bit of a negative view on that card. The Father archetype can be difficult. I personally like to see also the warmer sides of this card emerging in the card - it's a Fire sign after all, and Fathers love no less than the Mother archetype, even if they express it a bit differently. And having structure, order etc in life is not only a bad thing. Ideally, the Emperor earns the respect he gets, he doesn't simply demands it. Well, obviously it's your very personal decision where to take each archetype. 

[gregory]

3 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I’m thinking you used AI? I ask because of the very weird hands. If it’s not AI and you did that on purpose, then I’d be interested in hearing why 🙂 If it wasn’t on purpose, I’d try to rectify it if I were you. 

 

Actually now that you mention it - there are a few hands with too many fingers for mother nature....

Edited March 20, 2023 by gregory

[Chariot]

The artwork is beautiful, and I'm sure I would spend a lot of time just looking at each card and admiring it.  They are different enough from one another that I think they would be easy to distinguish one from another in a reading.  I also like your tendency to do close-up views of the people depicted in the card as well.  When I'm doing a reading I don't want to have to wonder which card I'm looking at—the close up views certainly help nail the 'character' of each card.

There are a few cards I am really drawn to ...Temperance, in particular. She looks so calm and balanced.  Exactly right, in my opinion.  I also like your Hermit a lot.  He looks more purposeful than many Hermits.  And I liked your High Priestess.  I think you've portrayed the inner/outer nature of the High Priestess concept very well.  The bottom face is looking at us, but the top face is looking inward.  I think that is really good.  It's not a card I usually relate to very well, but I could certainly use THIS kind of interpretation in a reading.

I find your take on The Tower very interesting, although I'm not sure about the symbolism.  The Tower, as I usually see it, is all about sudden, unexpected and drastic events that bring about change.  Your Tower seems to be all about slow decay, rather than something sudden.  Would be interesting to work with that notion, actually.

 

Your Lovers is interesting, and I like it, but it doesn't seem to be the same style as the others. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does stand out as being different.

I do struggle with the symbolism of some of the cards.  The Chariot, for instance.  The traditional Chariot is all about moving forward in an organised and controlled manner ...your Chariot seems stationary and not going anywhere.  I feel the your Hanged Man is too frightened and agitated, for a  card that is usually about stasis, reflection, and a different perspective.  Your Strength card, as well, doesn't really seem to fit the traditional meaning, which is about calm and compassionate inner strength that brings a difficult situation under control.  Yours just seems to be a bodybuilder/warrior type, who looks quite ferocious, in a don't-mess-with-ME kind of way.

In general, while I love certain of these cards, I find the overall vibe from this deck to be too severe for me.  Most people you've depicted look fierce and scary ...even deranged.  I was quite taken aback by the Emperor in particular, along with Judgement.  (I have no idea what is happening in that Judgement card.)  I don't think I would be comfortable reading with this deck, but I'm sure it will appeal to many people.  (I'm not crazy about the very popular Deviant Moon deck either, for the same reason ...I think the artwork is sublime but I don't relate to the images very well.)  However, I think you've done a superb job with the designs, and I certainly look forward to seeing how you handle the minor arcana.  Well done.  It's a very professional-looking result.

Oh, I forgot to mention ...check the spelling on the titles of the cards in the text portion ...You have Temerance and Emperess....

Edited March 20, 2023 by Chariot

[joy]

On 3/19/2023 at 3:03 PM, TheArtfulDodger said:

Hi, I have designed the Major Arcana and wanted to gather people’s oppions as to wether I should design the entire Tarot deck. Please go easy on me as this is my very first deck I have designed though I have previously designed a fantasy board game. I do appologise for the format and I do hope I am not infringing any rules by posting this way. The images are protected in this format from people clicking on them to copy. I do hope you enjoy them and look forward to hearing your responses and any suggestions you may have.

 

Many thanks for your time.

 

Cheers Colin

 

Hey Colin
Unfortunately, you did infringe our rule about self-promoting by adding a link to your site. Please read rule #4

https://www.thetarotforum.com/rules/

I did remove your link. If you would like to promote your deck you will have to subscribe.

Thank you for your co-operation!

joy

[TheArtfulDodger]

So sorry Joy I appear to have brooken your rules I am dyslexic so sometimes struggle with words especially fine print. My main goal was to get am inside oppion of my cards. I do not wish to stamp on any bodies feet. I am a struggling artist at 64 with crippling arthuristus I have had to stop painting and now relearn to create through AI my pictures.

I would like to personally thank all who have responded and for there insights. I may readdress some of the cards in this pack. Sorry about the spelling mistakes I will attempt to remove alter them. I originally trained as a graphic designer but was written off by the industry at the tender age of 30, put out to grace along time ago, so spent my time as a clown, punch & judy professor, magician and fine artist. I have unfortunately had several ideas painting, photos and conceptual ideas stolen or I would have posted the cards as a set of jpegs.

 

Thank you for your time

 

nam myo renge kyo

 

Cheers Colin

21 hours ago, Misterei said:

Hmmm. There were a couple of cards which hit for me. Hermit and Justice come to mind.

 

The others I couldn't connect with. They felt like the aesthetic was more important than the symbolism. Of course this is my opinion about 95% of the new decks coming out ... many decks I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot-pole raise crazy amounts of money on kickstarter and whatnot. So go figure.

 

I'm old school and like symbolism. One thing i really respect about digital artist Ciro Marchetti ... he really studied his tarot symbolism.

 

Anyway ... I certainly feel respect for your digital art skill. I'm trying to draw a deck on my ipad in procreate and I suck at it ... but I know my symbolism haha. If only I could draw faster and better I'd actually get somewhere.

 

2 hours ago, joy said:

 

Hey Colin
Unfortunately, you did infringe our rule about self-promoting by adding a link to your site. Please read rule #4

https://www.thetarotforum.com/rules/

I did remove your link. If you would like to promote your deck you will have to subscribe.

Thank you for your co-operation!

joy

Sorry trying to navigate this forum… and falling over my own laces… thanks again

 

[joy]

Hey @TheArtfulDodger sorry to hear about your struggles! You can post pictures of your deck here, that is ok. But just no links. Let me know if you need help.